Human virus papyrus (HPV or HPV) is a group of viruses from the papillomavirus family that cause damage to the skin and mucous membranes. HPV ranks first among sexually transmitted viral infections. The peak of infection occurs between the ages of 18 and 30 years. According to statistics from different countries, 80 to 90% of people are infected with HPV. But do not be afraid in advance. Our immune system is able to destroy the pathogen and not bring the disease of the matter.
How is the human papilloma virus transmitted?
Source of infection - carriers of the infection and people with clinical manifestations of HPV.
The virus is only transmitted from person to person.
is present in urine, saliva and genital secretions.
Infection enters the body in three ways:
- Contact and family. Infection occurs through touching the skin and mucosa of an infected person. The risks of getting human papillomavirus are especially high if there are scratches, cuts, sores, scratches in the contact area. The virus is able to maintain stability for some time in the external environment, therefore, infection is possible in a public shower, pool, bath, through clothes, dishes, hygiene items;
- Sexy. This is the main route of infection. Infection occurs with any type of sexual intercourse: genital, anal, oral-genital. The chance of infection with a single contact with an infected partner is 60%;
- At the birth of a child, during pregnancy. An infected mother can infect the baby in the womb and through the birth canal.
Human papillomavirus infection is characterized by a latent course. After infection, the virus does not manifest up to a certain point. We may not even be aware of its presence in the body. Normally, the immune system fights against the human papilloma virus, gradually destroying it, preventing the development of pathology.
Such self-healing lasts from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the characteristics of the organism. But if the immune system is weak, then the virus passes into an active phase, begins to appear. The chances of self-healing decrease with age; for people under 30, they are 80%. The first symptoms of the presence of HPV in the body may appear after a few weeks or decades. It all depends on the body's resistance and the type of papilloma virus with which it is infected.
types of HPV
About 200 species or varieties of human papillomavirus are now known. They are divided into 4 groups according to the risk of cancer. Each of the types is defined by a number assigned to it in the opening order.
Identify the types of HPVs that:
- never cause cancer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 28, 49);
- very rarely cause cancer (6, 11, 13, 32, 40 - 44, 51, 72);
- have a moderate oncogenic risk (26, 30, 35, 52, 53, 56, 58, 65);
- most often give malignant transformation (16, 18, 31, 33, 39, 45, 50, 59, 61, 62, 64, 68, 70, 73).
The last most dangerous group for health.
Of the high risk oncogenic human papillomaviruses, types 16, 18, 31, 33, 52, 58 are the most common.
HPV accounts for 7 - 8% of all cancers. This is the reason:
- 99% of women with cervical cancer;
- 93% of anal cancer cases;
- 51% of vulvar cancers;
- 36% of penile cancer cases;
- 63% of cases of oropharyngeal cancer.
Types of human papillomavirus registered since 2003.
| Species name in 2003—2010. | Other species included in species | Name of species since 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| human papillomavirus 1 (HPV1) | - | Mupapillomavirus 1 |
| Human papillomavirus 2 (HPV2) | HPV27, HPV57 | Alphapapillomavirus 4 |
| Human Papilloma Virus 4 (HPV4) | HPV65, HPV95 | Gammapapillomavirus 1 |
| Human Papilloma Virus 5 (HPV5) | HPV8, HPV12, HPV14, HPV19, HPV20, HPV21, HPV25, HPV36, HPV47 | Betapapillomavirus 1 |
| Human papillomavirus 6 (HPV6) | HPV11, HPV13, HPV44, HPV74, PcPV | Alphapapillomavirus 10 |
| Human Papillomavirus 7 (HPV7) | HPV40, HPV43, HPV91 | Alphapapillomavirus 8 |
| Human Papillomavirus 9 (HPV9) | HPV15, HPV17, HPV22, HPV23, HPV37, HPV38, HPV80 | Betapapillomavirus 2 |
| Human Papillomavirus 10 (HPV10) | HPV3, HPV28, HPV29, HPV77, HPV78, HPV94 | Alphapapillomavirus 2 |
| Human virus virus 16 (HPV16) papyrus | HPV31, HPV33, HPV35, HPV52, HPV58, HPV67Alphapapillomavirus 9 | |
| Human Papillomavirus 18 (HPV18) | HPV39, HPV45, HPV59, HPV68, HPV70, HPV85 | Alphapapillomavirus 7 |
| human papillomavirus 26 (HPV26) | HPV51, HPV69, HPV82 | Alphapapillomavirus 5 |
| Human Papillomavirus 32 (HPV32) | HPV42 | Alphapapillomavirus 1 |
| human papillomavirus 34 (HPV34) | HPV73 | Alphapapillomavirus 11 |
| human papillomavirus 41 (HPV41) | - | Nupapillomavirus 1 |
| Human Virus Papyrus 48 (HPV48) | - | Gammapapillomavirus 2 |
| Human Papilloma Virus 49 (HPV49) | HPV75, HPV76 | Betapapillomavirus 3 |
| human papillomavirus 50 (HPV50) | - | Gammapapillomavirus 3 |
| Human virus papyrus 53 (HPV53) | HPV30, HPV56, HPV66 | Alphapapillomavirus 6 |
| Human virus papyrus 54 (HPV54) | - | Alphapapillomavirus 13 |
| Human virus virus 60 (HPV60) papyrus | - | Gammapapillomavirus 4 |
| human papillomavirus 61 (HPV61) | HPV72, HPV81, HPV83, HPV84, HPVcand62, HPVcand86, HPVcand87, HPVcand89 | Alphapapillomavirus 3 |
| Human virus virus papyrus 63 (HPV63) | - | Mupapillomavirus 2 |
| Human virus papyrus 71 (HPV71) | - | deleted |
| Human Papillomavirus 88 (HPV88) | - | Gammapapillomavirus 5 |
| Human virus papyrus cand90 (HPVcand90) | - | Alphapapillomavirus 14 |
| Human papyrus virus cand92 (HPVcand92) | - | Betapapillomavirus 4 |
What are the symptoms of human papillomavirus infection?
During the transition to the active form, HPV affects the skin, genital mucosa, anal region, larynx, nasopharynx. This is facilitated by:
- reduced immunity;
- smoking, alcohol;
- hypothermia;
- vitamin deficiency;
- pregnancy;
- hormonal disorders;
- other sexually transmitted diseases;
- early onset of sexual activity;
- frequent change of sexual partners.
Lythat
Warts are the most common manifestation of human papillomavirus infection on the skin.
These are rounded formations with clear borders and a rough surface. Their size usually does not exceed 10 mm.
Human virus papyrus causes the following types of warts:
- Simple or vulgar. The most common. They appear on the skin in the form of dense grayish-yellow formations with a rough keratinized surface. It forms on the back of the hands, on the fingers, between the toes. They tend to unite with each other;
- Flat or youthful. They usually occur in children and adolescents. These are flat formations with flesh or pale brown, slightly raised above the level of the skin. They usually appear on the face, neck, shoulders, hands in groups of several people; Plantar. It forms on the sole of the foot in places with the greatest pressure: on the heel, under the toes. Unlike other warts, their growth is internal. In appearance, they resemble calluses, but they have a rough and not smooth surface, they destroy the skin pattern. Plantar warts are painful to pressure, painful when walking;
- In the thread. These are elongated, soft to the touch growths, on a leg up to 4 mm long. Their color is from flesh to dark brown. It forms on the neck, skin and eyelids, in the armpits, groin, under the mammary glands.
Lythat
Condylomas are papillomas that form on the mucous membranes of the reproductive system, the oral cavity, and the upper respiratory tract.
Has a bold and flat type:
- Highlighted. They are soft cone-shaped growths of a papillary shape of flesh or pink in color. Formed in the genital area, in the mucosa of the external and internal genitals, anus, less often in the oral cavity. It can appear as a rash of many warts joining together, forming something seemingly similar to a ridge. Genital warts are easily injured during sexual intercourse, gynecological examination, shower;
- Flat. They look like small bulges, located in the deep layers of the mucosa. Almost it is almost impossible to detect them with a simple inspection. Flat warts are more dangerous than genital warts, especially if they are located in the mucosa of the vagina and cervix. They grow in depth and breadth, and tend to degenerate into a cancerous tumor.
Human papillomavirus infection in women
Human papilloma virus is particularly dangerous in the field of gynecology, as it causes cervical cancer in women.
In 99% of cases, with the development of a tumor process, one of the most oncogenic types of HPV is found.
The greatest threat comes from HPV types 16 and 18. These pathogens account for 70% of cervical cancer and precancerous conditions.
The first step on the path to a malignant tumor is structural changes in the cells, thickening, proliferation of the mucosa. This condition is called cervical dysplasia. Changes in dysplasia are not critical and reversible if treatment is started on time. The main thing is not to let the situation take its course.
According to the size and depth of the affected area, there are 3 degrees of dysplasia:
- light weight;
- average;
- heavy.
The higher the rate of dysplasia, the higher the risk of degeneration of altered cells in a tumor. A mild degree often goes away on its own, and a severe one, if left untreated, is more likely to turn into cancer.
In the early stages of cervical dysplasia in women, caused by the human papillomavirus, there are no symptoms. There is no interruption of the menstrual cycle, pain in the lower abdomen, discomfort, bleeding. Diagnosis can be made only after examination. With a severe degree of dysplasia, it is possible to attach a secondary infection, develop an inflammatory process in the vagina (colpitis) and cervix (cervicitis).
Signs of inflammation include:
- itching, burning;
- pain, spots during intercourse;
- foul-smelling vaginal discharge;
- aching pain in the lower abdomen.
Cervical dysplasia due to the papilloma virus, if left untreated, turns into a malignant tumor within 10 to 12 years. But this is average data. The behavior of altered cells is unpredictable and depends largely on the state of the immune system and the presence of risk factors.
Human papilloma virus in men
Human papillomavirus infection is rare in men. However, an HPV-infected man is primarily a risk to a woman with whom he is in an intimate relationship. He is more likely to infect his partner even if he is asymptomatic.
From the manifestations of HPV, there are genital warts on the foreskin, the head of the penis, in the urethral area, around the anus. Their occurrence is provoked by a strong weakening of the immune system, hypothermia, chronic nervous stress, overwork. Condyloma often causes pain during intercourse, causes itching.
Complications of HPV in men include: development of phimosis (narrowing of the foreskin, which prevents the removal of glans), malignant tumors of the penis, anal region, erectile dysfunction. The risk group includes homosexuals, bisexuals and men with immunity.Diagnosis
When warts or genital warts appear, you should see a doctor and get tested for the human papilloma virus. Only a specialist can determine the nature of the formations, determine their cause. Depending on the location of the papilloma, you may need to consult a dermatologist, podiatrist, venereologist, urologist, gynecologist, otolaryngologist.
Given the risk of cervical cancer, women are advised to undergo regular examinations by a gynecologist in order to detect the pathogen in time and cure the smallest changes caused by it in the early stages.
The following tests are used to confirm HPV:
- Inspection of the problem area;
- Examination in a gynecological chair in mirrors (for women);
- Oncocytological slanders. It is taken during a gynecological and urological examination from the surface of the mucosa with a special brush (Papanicolaou test or PAP test). The test allows you to assess the shape, size, nature of cell location under a microscope. Identify changes, damage, dysplasia, or epithelial cell tumor transformation;
- Defamation for PCR analysis. This test for human papilloma virus allows you to detect the DNA of the pathogen, determine its type and amount;
- Colposcopy (examination of the cervix with an optical device). It is performed when many oncogenic HPVs and abnormalities in oncocytology are detected. In this study, the doctor examines in detail the surface of the cervix due to a multiple increase;
- Histological examination (biopsy). It is performed when suspicious tissue sites are detected during colposcopy. A small area of tissue (up to 5 mm) is taken for examination under a microscope.
How is the treatment performed?
The fight against human papillomavirus infection is carried out exclusively with the participation of a doctor. Using alternative methods, such as treating papillomas with celandine, iodine, treating papillomas with oil, treating with laundry soap, is often not effective. In addition, such methods of destroying warts can worsen the condition, provoke complications and damage the surrounding healthy skin. It is not recommended to use them at your own risk. You should first consult a specialist.
Modern treatment includes observation, treatment, surgery, and complication prevention. Unfortunately, there are no specific drugs that destroy HPV today.
The treatment is carried out in a comprehensive way in three areas:
- surgical;
- strengthening the immune system;
- use of local and systemic antiviral drugs.
Papilloma removal is performed with surgical equipment and methods:
- laser technologies;
- cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen);
- scalpel removal;
- radio wave operation (removal with a radio knife);
- electrocoagulation (electric moxibustion);
- moxibustion with aggressive chemicals.
The specific method is chosen taking into account the type, location and size of the formation. Removal of papillomas does not eliminate the virus 100%, does not guarantee that later formations will no longer appear.
Of the systemic drugs for papillomavirus infection, immunostimulatory antiviral agents are prescribed. They are used for different localization of papillomas, help activate the body's defenses in the fight against infection. Any medication for HPV should be prescribed by a doctor. During therapy, repeated studies are performed to evaluate its effectiveness.
Features of papilloma treatment by location
Treatment for oral papillomas includes removal of growths and supportive drug therapy. The need to get rid of growths in the oral cavity is associated with persistent discomfort, high mucosal sensitivity, ease of damage in the process of chewing food, damage to speech and the risk of oncological transformation.
Systemic immunostimulatory agents, topical oils and gels, and surgical methods are used to treat papillomas on the eyelids. Eye growths should be removed if they are prone to large growths, reduce the available appearance of the eye and impair vision. Human papillomavirus infection in the eye is often accompanied by other infectious lesions of bacterial origin, leading to inflammation of the eyelids and mucous membranes. Laser therapy, cryodestruction, electrocoagulation are used to remove papillomas.The types of HPV that cause skin lesions are generally harmless. Treatment of papillomas on the face and body is performed mainly for cosmetic purposes in order to get rid of imperfections. In addition, convex formations are unsuitable. It is easy to touch them with clothes, jewelry, hurt. In some cases, treatment of papillomas on the skin is not required, as they disappear spontaneously.
The most dangerous papillomas in the genital area. Treatment of human papillomavirus manifestations in men and women in the genital area is performed with surgical equipment and methods in combination with taking immunosuppressive drugs. For each patient, the method of therapy is chosen individually.
When treating papillomas in children, immunologists and pediatricians prescribe immunostimulatory drugs, vitamins to increase protection. Often this step is enough for the formation to disappear without surgery. If it is necessary to remove papillomas, cryodestruction and a laser are used as the safest methods that do not cause complications.
How to prevent HPV infection?
A large number of carriers of the virus around are dangerous to everyone. How to avoid infection, prevent the appearance of papillomas on the skin or mucous membranes?
Vaccination is considered the most effective method. It is advised to be performed in adolescence (11 - 12 years) before the onset of sexual activity, as sexual contact is the main route of infection. The human papillomavirus vaccine can be given later up to the age of 45, but will only work if there is no HPV in the body.
Papilloma virus vaccines provide almost 100% protection against infection and cancer.
Three vaccines have been developed and successfully implemented in practice:
- protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18;
- also protects against HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52, 58;
- is effective against HPV types 16 and 18.
Routine HPV vaccination is performed in 55 countries. Among them are America, Canada, France, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Norway.
In addition to vaccination, methods of preventing HPV include:
- quitting bad habits (smoking, alcohol);
- healthy food balanced by vitamins;
- delaying the onset of sexual activity in adolescents;
- a regular sexual partner;
- regular check-ups and examinations by a gynecologist.
To prevent plantar warts, indoor shoes should be worn in public swimming pools, showers, locker rooms. These actions will reduce the risks of infection not only with HPV but also with nail fungus (onychomycosis).
Podiatrists will help you cure plantar warts caused by HPV and other types of warts on the feet and hands, remove painful calluses, calluses and quickly cure nail fungus. They perform medical hardware pedicure, toenail removal, foot care for diabetic feet.
If you are worried about any skin problems of the feet or nails, consult a doctor, find out the cause of the concern, get information about the methods by which it can be eliminated.